Ball-actuated racing game device



Oct. 17, 1950 E. FLORIMONT BALL-ACTUATED RACING GAME DEVICE Filed. June 12, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 17, 1950 E. FLORIMONT 2,526,215

BALL-ACTUATED RACING GAME DEVICE Filed June 12, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOE. EUGENE HOE/MONT.

Arron/Era Oct. 17, 1950 E. FLORIMONT BALL-ACTUATED RACING GAME DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 12, 1945 w R m mm 2 w R 1% M E U MN m m V/ MZI/JM ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 17, 1950 E. FLORIMONT BALL-ACTUATED RACING GAME DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 12, 1945 INVENTOR.

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Patented Oct. 17, 1950 r Eugene Florimont, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Greyhound: Amusement Device Brooklyn, N. Y., a copartnership composed of Company,-

; Eugene, Elorimont, Leo- Stober, and Isidor Rubenstein Application June 12, '1945, Serial No. 599,054

4 Claims.

This invention pertains toamusement devices and, more especially, to a racing game adapted'for mass play bya number of players competing for thewinner. 1 A feature of the invention resides in. the fact that the game involves a certain amountofskill and an element of uncertainty, whereby-the winner cannot be forecast irrespective of the number 'of players competing. H

A furtherjfeature is that the game can'be played by any number of individuals competing concurrently, up to the limit of the available In accordance with a further feature, the game comprising the invention is. extremely simplified as to construction and operation in that the majority of the operations are effected electricala ly by means of switch and relay actuated electrical motor drives fortheracing'elements; in contrast to mechanical actuations derived from en-. ergy supplied by the players. j 7

In accordance with still-another feature, the game is composed of wholly self-contained and portable individual racing units,, any desired number of which may be quickly assembled for play and as quickly disassembledfor storage or shipment.

In accordance with a further feature, the win- '2 each racing unit'is mounted within a substantially rectangular or box-like housing, provided with'aglass front, whereby the. player maygyiew the operation of the mechanism therein. Within the housing on the base thereof, a balk-tossing board which=operates like a see-saw is. pivotally mounted off-center, so that one end normally rests onthe housing base. This end terminates in an upwardly. curved portion to provide anormal resting place for the ball. To this end, a'ball is provided having a diameter slightly less than ning of the play by oneracing element automatiactuated chains, cables or thellike eitendin bee I tween the whippet and drive sprockets located at opposite ends of the track. During playythe motor actuation is such, as explained below, as intermittently to-advance the-Whippet froma its goal at the opposite end of the track When the playis ended as determined by a winner, the motor actuation is such'ias to return the hippet to the starting point, irrespective oi its position along the track at the end of the play. I Advancement of the Whippet along the tra'ck r during play is based on the principle of successfully tossing a ball through-a miniature hoop, as determined by the skill of the player in actuating a ball tossing mechanism associated with each racing unit. The ball-tossingmechanism for the depth of the housing, so that irrespective of any particular trajectory which it may follow when tossed, it will fall back'on the tossing board and thereupon roll back to its normal resting place owing to the "off-center pivotal mounting of the board.

Actuation ofthe. tossing board tosses the ball in a trajectory directed toward the opposite side of the'housing, .and mounted on this side in elevated relation. to the board are ,one or more miniature hoop-like structures, the openings of which are normally closed by counterweighted flaps. If the ball happens to fall through one of these flaps, the weight of the ball in passing through depresses the flap, thereby momentarily actuating an associated switch. Actuation of this switch energizes the motor control circuit for advancing the Whippet along the track a certain distance for each such actuation, for example, about six to twelve inches. Actuation of the tossing board is accomplished by; means of a cable secured at one end to the normally elevat;d end of the board and extending over ap: propriate pulleys to one end of a pivoted lever provided at its opposite end with a knob or handle for manual actuation by the player.

' Having now generally described the invention,

a starting point at one end, of thetrack toward reference is made, for a more detaileddescription, to'theaccompanying drawings, wherein: I

Fig. l-isa perspective view of one of the racing units with parts broken awayto show the constr..ction and operation.

Fig. '2 is a perspectiveview of the associated ball-tossing mechanism, this view also'showin g several such mechanisms and portions of'thei'r associated racing units in assembled relation such as to permit competition by a number of players. I

Fig. 3 is a transversersection at 3-3 of Fig. 1.

*Fig. 4 is an 'elevational detail of the motoractuated chain sprocket mechanism of Fig. 1.

Fig; 5 is a diagrammatic layout of the electrical circuits and components involved in operation of the Figs. 1 to 3'construction. I

Fig. 6 is a more simplified form of circuit arrangement which may also be employed with slight modification as explained below.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a hoop-like structure for receiving the ball when tossed, this structure being a modification of that shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, a toy Whippet I is mounted on a chassis 2, provided with rollers 3 which ride along a race track 4 of wood or the like, having afiixed to the upper surface thereof longitudinally extending guides 5, E for guiding the Whippet along the track.

The mechanism for propelling the Whippet along the track includes a chain 1, secured at one, end by a hook 8 on the forward end of chassis 2, the chain passing thence over a sprocket 9 carried on the shaft 10 of a motor I I mounted at the forward end of track 4, the chain 1 returning thence under the chassis 2 and passing over a sprocket l2 carried by the shaft l3 of a motor I l mounted at the rear end of the track, the chain 1 extending thence back to the chassis and terminating on a hook I secured to the rear end thereof.

Motor II, when energized, rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed in the drawings, and thereby advances the Whippet along the track; while motor I4, when energized, rotates counterclockwise to return the Whippet to the starting point. In order, however, to prevent any motor when energized from dragging the rotor of the other motor around with it through the intermediary of the interlinking. chain and sprocket assembly, each sprocket 9, I2 is driven by its associatedmotor II, 14 through a pawl and ratchet mechanism such that each motor, when energized, transmits a positive drive to its associated sprocket, during which time, however, the sprocket associated with the remaining or deenergized motor merelyslips around ;on-.the motor shaft.

Fig. 4 shows the arrangement. by which this is accomplished. Thus, the shaft ID of the forward motor I I has keyed thereto a ratchet wheel I6, engaged by a pawl I'l, pivoted to sprocket 9, the latter being otherwise rotatably journaled to shaft II]. This pawl and ratchet mechanism is constructed as shown to transmit a positive drive between shaft [6 and sprocket 9 only in they clockwise direction of rotation. The reverse arrangement is employed for coupling the shaft I3 of motor M to its sprocket l2, the associated pawl and ratchet mechanism I8, I9 being such as to provide a positive drive between elements I2, I3 only when rotated inthe counterclockwise direction of rotation.

When the Whippet advances to the extreme forward end of the track, it operates a switch 26 thereat which prevents further operation of motor I l as explained below. The actuation of this 'switchresults from one of the forward rollers 3 on the Whippet chassis engaging a roller 21 carried by a resilient sw-itch arm :22 of switch 20,, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3. A similar switch 24 is provided at the starting end of the track for 'deenergizing the return motor I'd upon return of the Whippet to the starting position as explained below.

As above stated, the racing unit of Figs. 1, 3 and 4 is *of self-contained portable construction and to this end is provided with end closure members 25, 26, and side members 21', 23, to which are hinged, as at 29, 30, extension members 3I, 32, member 32 having a further extension 33 hinged thereto, as at 34. These hinged members3l, 32,

4 33 are adapted to open out into a horizontal surface as shown in the drawings, to render the unit operative for play and to simulate the appearance of a race track, the upper surface of which, thereby exposed to view, may be painted green or provided with imitation grassas indicated at 35. When, however, it is desired to assemble the unit for storage or shipment, sides 3|, 32 are brought up to the vertical position to constitute extensions of sides 21, 28, while the end member 33 is swung through 180 into the opposite hori- .zontal position to provide a cover over the whiphousing 50. havinga glass, front, 51; Within the housing, and on the base. 52 thereof, a toss n board v53 is pivotally mounted off-center, as at 54, and such that the larger end 55a normaliy rests on the base 52 of the housing, The, end 551; terminates in an upward curvature, as shown, and thus provides a receptacle for a. ball 56.

At its opposite .end,,the tossing board is provided on its under side with a hook 55. to which is secured one end of acable 56a extending therefrom through an aperture 5'1 in the base 52, thence under pulleys 58, 5.9, to a playing counter fill, on which is pivotally mounted, as at. B I, a lever 62, to one end 63 of which the cable '5 B.a,.is. attached, while the other end is provided with an operating handle 64. .A tension spring extends between lever 62 and counter 63 for normally maintaining the lever in the position shown.

It will be observedfrom the construction described that as the handle 64 is sharply depressed, as by means of a percussion blow, the accompanying elevation of the opposite end 63 will be transmitted through cable 56a to produce 9, corresponding sharp depression of the cable-attached end of tossing board 53, thereby totoss the' ball 56 in the air along some such trajectory as 66. That is, the ball will be tossed toward the side 61 of the housing.

Mounted at an elevated position on this side are a pair of rectangularhoop-like structures 68, I59, within the opening of each of which is Divotally mounted as at 18-, a flap H which is so counterweighted, as at 12, as normally to maintain the aperture closed. If now the ball happens to be tossed along a trajectory 66 such that in falling it passes through one 'of the hoop members, such as indicated at I38,v the weight of the ball will deflect the flap Tl downwardly during passage of the ball through the hoop, The downward deflection of flap II will actuate the resilient arm 13 of a switch T and thereby momentarily energize the forward motor H, Fig. 1, to advance the Whippet I a short distance along the track, as explained below. Hoop member -39 is provided with a similar switch 15.

The switches T4, 15 may be so arranged that the operation of one will energize motor I! for a slightly longer duration than the other, thereby to advance the Whippet agrea ter distance if the ball falls through one hoop than it does for the other. It will be understood, of course, that if the ball is tossed so inaccurately that it fails to pass through a hoop, there will be no advance of the Whippet for that try, but the Whippet will be advanced, say, six to twelve inches, or any aces-,2

fotlier desired distance, for each toss that the ball does pass through one of the hoops. The dimensions of' the housing 50, tossing board 53 and ball 56 are relatively such that the ball in falling back will always land on the board I 53, which in turn is pivoted a sufficient disf't'anceoif center to assure return of the ball to its normal receptacle 55a as'shown.

: As further shown in Fig. 2, any desired numberjof' the individual racing assemblies may be mounted side-by-side with the ball-tossing mechanis'ms mounted, as'shown at I6, 50, I1, and with their associated race tracks extending in upwardly inclined direction therefrom, as indicated at "18, I9, 80; The playing counter60 .will extend the length of the race track assemblies, as indicated by the dashed lines 8!, so that the players may stand side-by-side along the counter, each having before him a lever, suchas 62, for operating his particular ball-tossing mechanism. Refer now to Fig. 5 for an explanation of the electrical features of the inventiomthe mechan- Lical details of which have been above described. In Figs. 1 to 5 inc.; like elements are similarly designated. In Fig. 5, three track assemblies 18, I9, 80 are shown mounted side-by-side as in Fig. 2. The ball-actuated play switches are designated 14, I5 as in Fig. 2. The motors advancing the whippets and those for returning them to their starting positions are designated as II and I4 respectively,'and the switches thereat actuated by the whippets are designated 20, v2 Iasin'Fig.1.

' Assuming all of the whippets are in their start- "ing"positions, the system is energized for starting 'the'play byfoperating the double-pole, doublethrow switch 90, to contact 9|. This completes a circuit over conductors 86 and through normally closed back contacts of a relay 81, to actuate. a phonograph 88 which thereupon announces the starting of the play, providing instructions,therefor and subsequent appropriate sound efiects, etc., during the play. Operation "of switch 90 to contact 9| also connects a battery 92 through the back contacts in multiple of a normally released relay '93 and'over circuits, [such as 94, 95, 96, extending through the play motors I l and the normally open contacts of the 'ball-actu'ated switches 14, I5 in parallel. Thus, if any switch", for any particular race track "18, 19,80 is actuated mometarily, by passage of "the balllifi through a hoop 68, 69, the associated play motor II will be momentarily energized over the circuitjabove traced to advance the corresponding whippet a short distance along its track in the manner above explained.

the play proceeds, the whippets will thus beintermittently advanced along tracks 18, I9, "'80, at relative rates depending on the luck and skill of the players manipulating the control knobs 64. In this connection, all players will of 1 'coursebe required to actuate these knobs inunisonfor the same total number of times until one of thefwhippets advances 'to'the' goal line.

Proceeding in this fashion, when any particuflar Whippet reaches the upper end ofthe race track it will close the switch thereat in the manner above'explained, which in turn will close a circuit to lighta lamp 9'! over the winner, and also. to operate relay 93, this circuit being traced 5 from the'negative terminal of battery 92through fthe winding of relay 93, the contacts of theoperated switch 20 and associated" lamp 9? over conductors, such as 98, 99, returning thence to the positive terminal of the battery over con- -ductor 96." The operation of relay 93 will open its back contacts, and thus open the energizing circuits for all of the play motors II so that no Whippet can be advanced along its track there-.

after. Also, the operation of relay 93 closes,

through its front contacts, a circuit completed over conductors I00, I0 I, and connecting the battery 92 across the following elements in parallel, viz.: a counting relay I02 which thereupon operates to chalk up the number of the race; a bell I03, the ringing of which announces acoustically that the race has been won, thereby to direct attention to the lamp 9'! illuminated as aforepet is returned to its starting position, it actuates switch 24 to deenergize its return motor I4. This action continues for each Whippet independently of the others until all are returned.

Fig. 6 shows an electrical circuit arrangement which may be substituted for that of Fig. 5, and which is much simpler in that but one motor I4 is required per track, in contrast to the two motors II, [4 per track employed in the Fig. 5

arrangement. In the Fig. 6 circuit, each motor I4 is reversible and to this end is provided with a shunt field winding I06 energized in one polarity from battery 92, through the back contacts of an associated, normally released relay I01, and energized in the opposite polarity from battery 92 through the front contacts of relay [07. That is to say, the operation of this relay reverses the direction in which the current from battery 92 traverses the field winding while maintaining the direction of current flow onthe rotor winding unchanged, whereby the direction of rotation of the motor is reversed, by operation of the relay.

With this circuit arrangement, the chain sprocket i2 is permanently keyed to the motor shaft I3 ,'Figs.' l and 4, the pawl and ratchet mechanism I8, I9 being eliminated. Also, at the finish line of the track, motor II is omitted and sprocket 9 jo-urnaled to a shaft IQ for rotation in either direction, omitting the pawl and ratchet mechanism I6, II. Accordingly, the Whippet I will be propelled either forward or backward by motor I4 depending on itsdirection of rotation.

Reverting to Fig. 6, the system is energized for starting the playzby operating switch '90 to contact 9L. "This closes the circuit over conductors as to actuate the phonograph. It also connects the negative terminal of battery 92 to conductor I03, and the positive terminal of the battery through the normally closed back contacts of relay 93 to conductor I09. Now it will be observed that a connection H0 extends from conductor I09 to each motor Hi from whence multiple paths are traced directly through the rotor and through the armaturegand back contacts of relay on its shaft E23.

to 5S, shaft 123 the ball happens to pass in falling.

multiple of. the ball-actuated switches 74, :15 to conductor 188. I

Accordingly, when any switch '14 or 1.5 :is actuated, the :associated motor M will be .-momentarily energized from battery 92 over the circuit above traced to advance the whip-pet a short distance along its track. As the pla proceeds, one Whippet will reach the finish line first, to close switch 20 thereat. I'his completes a circuit, to light the lamp 9? over the winner, and to actuate relay 93 traced from the negative terminal of battery .92, over conductors 108 and H2, contacts of the actuated switch 20, conductor H3, and winding of relay 9%, returning thence to the positive battery terminal. Operation of relay 93 opens, at its back contacts, the energizing circuits for all of the motors I4, so that no further advances of the whippets are possible. It also closes, through its front contacts, the circuits traced .over conductors H19, l0l,'for operating the counter m2, bell m3 and relay 8'1 which stops the phonograph.

In order toreturn all whippets to the starting point, switch 98 is operated to contact H24. This connects the negative battery terminal to a conductor H 4 and the positive terminal to conduetor H5. It will be noted that .a circuit is traced from conductor il t4 through the winding of each relay Hi1 and contacts of the normally closed associated switch 524 to conductor H5. Eachrela'ly it! thereupon operates to reverse the connection of the field winding I06 across the rotor, b openng the back contacts and closing the front contacts to which the field winding is connected. At the same time, an outer armature H6 of relay it? closes and connects the negative batter terminal over conductor I M and through said armature lie to one side of the motor, the opposite side of which is connected through switch contact as and over conductor M5 to the positive battery terminal. All motors M are accordingly energized in the reverse direction from that previously stated, to return the whippets to their starting point. Aseach Whippet returns to the starting point, it opens its switch 24 to deenergize its motor.

Fig. 7 shows a modified construction ofthe hoop members 53, t9 (Fig. 2) Fig. '7 being a sectional view such as would be obtained at 7-? of Fig. 2, with the structure of this figure replacing elements 63, 69 therein. The Fig. '7 con-. struction comprises a single rectangular element E29 mounted on the side 6'1 of the housing 56 as shown, element I28 having about the dimensions of elements 63, 69, Fig. 2, combined. About midway along the longitudinal sides IZI of element 129, a double-flap member H22 is pivotally'mounted on a shaft l23, the opposite ends of which are secured to the sides i2! respectively. Member I22 comprises a single, initially rectangular section of sheet metal or the like, which is so 'crimped about shaft 523, as shown at 12- 3, as to rockingly engage the shaft but Without being disengageable therefrom. The opposite ends of the flap 'memcer .i22 are downwardly inclined as shown, but leave sufficient space between theilap member and the hoop member I28, as at E25, to permit the flap member to rock or swing freely 'The dimensions betweenshaft H3 and the ends 526, are such as to permit the ball '56 to fall through the hoop member on either side of the shaft, thus providing a double-hoop arrangement similar Depending on which :side of iZ'i of the hoop member through the hoop,.-its contact with the flap member I22 will swing the same initially in one direction or the opposite direction.

Mounted on the under side -of the flap member :22 is a mercury switch 28, from the terminals [2-9 of which flexible leads 153i) extend to the hoop member 28 and thence over suitable conductors to the motor control circuits of .Figs. 5 and 6, wherein the contacts of switch I28 are designated as :4. The contacts of themercury switch will be closed momentarily to actuate the Whippet-advancing motor irrespective of which side of shaft 123 the ball passes through, on the forward swing if the ball falls through one side and on the back swing. if it falls through the other, the closure being effected for a longer interval in the former instance than in the latter, thereby to provide a difierential in increment of motor advance.

If desired, switch I28 may be made of arouate shape with the mercury normally resting at the bottom of the arc and with contacts at each end corresponding to switches 14, 15, Figs. 5 and 6. In this case, one of the switches will be closed on the forward swing of the flap irrespective of the side of shaft I23 on which the ball passes, and the flap may be so damped as to prevent oscillations.

Referring to Fig. 1, the energizing conductors for switches 20, 24 and for motors H, M may be terminated in jacks provided in the sides '21, 28 of the housing, whereby each racing unit is entirely self-contained, the necessary connections between a plurality of units when assembledand connected as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, being effected by means of jumper wires terminating in plugs adapted to engage the jacks aforesaid.

What is claimed is:

1. In an amusement device of the character described: a plurality of tracks extending between start and finish lines, an object movable along each track, a normally inactive electric motor-drive connected to each said object for advancing the object in the direction of the finish lin when the electric motor thereof is energized, a plurality of switches connected to each electric motor for energizing said electric motor, said switches being intermittently actuatable and set to energize the electric motor for different predetermined periods of time, a second normally inactive electric motor-drive connected to each said object for returning the object to the starting line when the electric motor thereof is energized, a switch connected to said last mentioned electric motor for energizing the same and causing the object to return to the starting line, and a third switch located at the .finish of each track and operable by the object on each track for deenergizing all first mentioned energized electric motors and for preventing energization of all first mentioned inactiveelectric motors, whereby the second mentioned switchmaybe free to energize the second mentioned electric motors to return the objects to the starting line.

2. In an amusement device of the character described: a plurality of tracks extending between start and finish lines, an object movable :along each track in either direction thereon, an electric motor-drive connected to each object for intermittently "advancing said object in the direction of the finish line, the electric motor of said drive being normally inactive, a, plurality of switches connected to said motor for energizing said motor and advancing the object, said switches being intermittently actuable and beassent ing set to energize the motor for different predetermined periods of time, said switches being selectively operable and adapted for connection to a gameof skill whereby the player of the game of skill may, by reason of his skill in playing the game, selectively actuate one of said switches, a second switch located at the finish line of each track and operable by the object on each track when said object reaches the finish line, each said second switch being connected to the electric motors of all of said objects to deenergize those electric motors which are energized and to prevent energization of those motors which are inactive, a second electric motor-drive connected to each said object for returning the object to the starting line, the electric motor of said second mentioned electric motor-drive being also normally inactive, and a switch connected thereto for energizing said last mentioned electric motor and returning the object to the starting line.

3. In a. device of the character described: a plurality of tracks extending between start and finish lines, an object movable along each said track, normally inactive electric motor-drive means individual to said tracks for advancing said objects respectively, a manually operable ball-tossing device and associated ball for each track, each said device including a passage arranged in the path of a possible trajectory of said ball, a switch operable by said ball while in said passage for energizing the electric motordrive of the associated track to advance the object thereon, whereby all said objects may be independently advanced by their associated balltossing devices, means including a switch at the finish of each track, operable by advance of the object thereon to said finish, each said switch being connected to all of said electric motordrives for concurrently deenergizing all of said -motor-drives which are energized and for preventing energization of all of said motor-drives which are inactive, thereby to prevent. further advances by any of said objects, a second normally inactive electric motor-drive individual to said tracks for returning the objects to the starting line, a switch connected to all of said second mentioned. electric motor drives for energizing said drives and returning all of the objects to the starting line, and a switch located at the start of each track and operable by the return of the object thereon, said last mentioned switch being connected to said last mentioned electric motor-drive for deenergizing said electric motor-drive when the object is returned to the tarting line.

10 4, In an amusement device of the character described: a track extending between start and finish points, an object movable along said track by means including sprockets at said start and finish points respectively and a chain extending therebetween, said chain being connected to said object, a pair of electric motors coupled to said sprockets respectively through oppositely arranged pawl and ratchet means, one of said motors being operable in clockwise direction and the other of said motors being operable in counterclockwise direction, both motors being normally inactive, one of said motors, when energized, being operative to advance the object in the direction of the finish point, an intermittently operable switch connected to said object advancing motor for energizing the same and thereby intermittently advancing the object toward the finish point, a switch situated at the finish point and actuated by the object when it reaches the finish point, said switch being connected to said object advancing motor to deenergize the same and prevent further forward movement of the object, the other motor constituting the return motor and being adapted, when energized, to

return the object to the starting point, another switch connected to said return motor for energizing said motor when the advancing motor is deenergized for returning the object to the starting point and still another switch situated at the starting point and actuated by the object when the'object reaches the starting point, said last mentioned switch being connected to the return motor for deenergizing the same when the object is back at the starting point.

EUGENE FLO-RIMONT.

REFERENCES CITED The iollowing'references are of record in the 

